Archives – Page 3 – SJSU SAASC

Archive of the Week: GM Heritage Archive

by SAASC Team

We are rolling into Spring Semester and excited to share the news that our Archives of the Month feature posts are transitioning to Archives of the Week! Check in here every Friday of Spring Semester to see an amazing archive highlighted.

Our first stop is the General Motors Heritage Archive. This digital archive is home to more than 250,000 historical documents as well as millions of photographs, films, and digital images.

The collection proudly boasts materials for nearly all models of General Motors cars and trucks from 1977 to the present. There are hundreds of vehicle information kits like that of the 1902 model year Cadillac, that can be viewed online.

$750 Cadillac Runabout — 1902 Cadillac Runabout

Researchers can visit the archive in person in Michigan by appointment only, or can request materials digitally.

Images Courtesy of the GM Heritage Archive

Archive of the Month: The Polonsky Exhibition of the…

by SAASC Team

Nestled among the marbled halls of the New York Public Library’s main building is the Polonsky Exhibition of the New York Public Library’s Treasures. While New York is already home to many literary treasures, this collection is unique in that it includes artifacts, manuscripts and items from all over the world.

Visitors are able to see a small portion of the collection up close when visiting the Stephen A Schwarzman Building in New York City. Additional items are kept archived or are available for viewing online. In-person and digital visitors are able to listen to the audio guide to learn more about some truly amazing pieces including Christopher Robin Milne’s own Winnie the Pooh and Charles Dickens’ writing table.

Though it is rather unusual to have so many unique artifacts in a public library, the easy access to archived materials makes this exhibition a great, free stop when in New York City.

Photos Courtesy of Aryn Prestia, SAASC Blog Editor.

Archive of the Month: Writer’s Guild Foundation Archive

by SAASC Team

This holiday season as you relax on the couch with your family, likely watching holiday movies or themed TV shows, you have members of the Writer’s Guild to thank!

The Writer’s Guild of America represents screenwriters throughout the entertainment industry. The Writer’s Guild Foundation maintains an archive to preserve the organization’s history. Collections include manuscripts both published and unpublished across all media genres from the dawn of radio performances to digital streaming services.

A few interesting collections include:

The Tonight Show Jokes and Sketches Collection consists of material written for the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Beverly Hills 90210 Collection of development and production documents.
Sesame Street Scripts from 1972-1976

The Writer’s Guild Foundation Archive is in Los Angeles and open to visitors by appointment only.

This post was inspired by a suggestion presented during the 2022 SAASC Scavenger Hunt

Photos courtesy of the Writer’s Guild Foundation.

Archive of the Month: Historic Recipe File

by SAASC Team

As we enter into the holiday season, it’s the perfect time to highlight a food-related collection!

The Milwaukee Public Library Digital Collections team has a wonderful Historic Recipe File full of classic recipes that were originally published in the Milwaukee Journal or Milwaukee Sentinel between the 1960s and the 1980s.

Food has a unique way of bridging cultures, and the Milwaukee Public Library’s initiative allows us to taste, quite literally, the flavors of a community that might be thousands of miles away. Check out dishes like Liver and Onions, Ambrosia Fruitcake, and Anadama Bread for a dose of nostalgia this Thanksgiving weekend.

Ambrosia Fruitcake Recipe — Photo Courtesy of Milwaukee Public Library Digital Collections

Happy Holidays from your SAASC chapter!

2023 Sacramento Archives Crawl Recap

by SAASC Team

Written by Alexandra Angel, Guest Writer

Earlier this month, history and archives enthusiasts flocked to California’s state capitol for the annual Sacramento Archives Crawl, an Archives Month event hosted by the California State Archives, California State Library, Center for Sacramento History, and the Sacramento Room at the Central Library. Crawlers visited all four venues and discovered items from dozens of archives and special collections libraries centered around this year’s theme – Myth, Folklore, and Legend. The event had something for everyone: eye-opening exhibits and tours, fascinating presentations, a scavenger hunt, and even live music!

I started my day at the California State Archives, which offered a tour featuring theme-specific items, presentations on genealogy research and military archives, as well as exhibits from organizations including the Lavender Library and the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. I then met up with SAASC Board Chair, Caroline Perez, and together we explored the exhibits at the California State Library. We viewed items and visuals from California Revealed, the California State Parks Archives & Photographic Archives, and the UC Davis Library Archives and Special Collections, as well as information about services like the State Library’s Digital Concierge Program. We enjoyed a performance by Irish folk/punk band Stout Rebellion while browsing books on myths and legends from the Library’s General Collection, literature on UFOs, and recipes for some of the most famous literary cocktails.

Stout Rebellion at the California State Library

Our last two stops highlighted the local archives and collections from the Sacramento region. At the Center for Sacramento History, we took a tour of their archival repository that includes city and county records, artifacts, photographs, and moving images and recorded sound. We also chatted with members of the West Sacramento Historical Society and the Sacramento River Delta Historical Society, as well as archivists from the Yolo County Archives, and the Placer County Museums, Archive and Research Center. We ended the day at the Sacramento Central Library, where crawlers toured the Sacramento Room, learned about Sacramento County History Day, and entered to win prizes from local businesses.

If you’re like me and just beginning the MLIS program, events like the Archives Crawl are a great way to dive into the archiving world. By visiting each site and engaging with various archivists and library staff (many of whom are SJSU MLIS alumni!), we learned about their different tasks and projects, how they got their start in the archives profession, and some of the challenges archivists face today. It was great to see their work front-and-center, and their passion and enthusiasm were inspiring. Major kudos to everyone from the host locations, participating archives and libraries, and sponsoring partners who made the whole event possible. The entire day was incredibly fun, and I can’t wait for next year’s crawl!

Alexandra Angel is a first year MLIS student with an interest in archives, preservation, and records management. She has a background in public affairs, strategic communications, and policy research & analysis.

*All photos provided by Alexandra Angel

Category: <span>Archives</span>